For the people whose job it is to help protect children and young people from abuse or neglect, the main priority is to make sure that the child or young person is safe. They have a legal duty to look into any situation that's referred to them. They need to find out if a child, young person and their family need help and, if they do, work with the family to provide it.

There is a myth that people who do this job just want to take children away from home. That is just a myth. The reality is that very, very few children or young people have to leave home as a result of a child protection inquiry. And this only happens when children are in danger and at immediate risk of significant harm.

What everyone wants is for the child or young person's family to be able to safely care for their children at home. Most children and young people stay at home, with support being provided to try and solve the problems that led to the concern in the first place.

To ensure a child gets the best possible help:

• give as much information as you can about the child or young person and their family/carer;
• describe what it was that you saw or heard and what it was that concerned you;